Richland County, S.C., man Jaquice Williams, 21, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of “Failure to Stop for Blue Lights Resulting in Death” in connection with a fatal 2023 crash.
What happened in the crash
- In the early morning of July 17, 2023, a Richland County deputy spotted a vehicle reported stolen from Columbia and tried to stop it on Mallet Hill Road, but the driver fled.
- Deputies later lost sight of the car; shortly afterward, they were dispatched to a crash at 811 Mallet Hill Road, where the vehicle was found on fire.
Victims and outcome
- The two passengers who died were 21‑year‑old Makiya Alford of West Columbia and 19‑year‑old Keyona Bryant of Columbia.
- Williams pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026, and was sentenced by Judge Chris Taylor to 16 years in prison, with the two counts running concurrently. Sheriff Leon Lott said the sentence provides “a measure of justice” for the two lives lost, noting that Williams accepted responsibility for his actions.
